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What’s been your biggest life lesson? In 2016, I stepped down from an executive position at US franchise chain Massage Envy, to spend more time with my ageing mother. After 20-plus years of being fully immersed in my career, I felt it was time to take a break. This decision turned out to be eye-opening. There’s growth and learning that comes when we slow down, reassess and reconnect with our true selves and loved ones. Today, I’m back in my career but with more confidence, clarity and boundaries.
What do you still hope to accomplish? There’s a great need for professional, talented therapists to meet the ever-growing consumer demand for massage and bodywork services. I hope to be a part of the movement and efforts that build and drive positive public awareness and understanding of massage careers to increase interest and grow our workforce.
How has the industry evolved? In 2003, spa services were mainly available to an elite clientele. In the past 20 years, we’ve experienced unprecedented growth in local day spas through the franchise model. These models offer affordable monthly memberships of US$79-89 (€70-80 £60-68), which include a 60-minute massage, in thousands of locations in suburban communities meaning they target a more diverse consumer. US franchise spa and massage businesses are now collectively performing 30 million services annually.
What do you wish had been invented? The spa industry could greatly benefit from a national, streamlined education model for therapists, aestheticians and management candidates.
How do you hope the industry will look in 2050? I’d like to see spa services as a part of everyone’s wellness and health routines. They are so beneficial in managing hundreds of physical and emotional challenges that we all face in today’s world. It would be amazing to see the availability of them spread across all demographics. Heal the body, heal the planet.
Birthday message to Spa Business
"The world of spa and wellness is ever-evolving and Spa Business has been at the forefront of these changes. I’ve always valued its content and how it leads the charge with thought-provoking articles"
More from spa industry leaders...
In celebration of Spa Business’ 20th anniversary, industry leaders take a look at how far the sector has come since the magazine’s inception in 2003, share personal career highlights and reveal their plans and ideas for the future.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2023 issue 3
Editor's letter: Reflection point
As Spa Business celebrates its 20th birthday, Katie Barnes pauses for thought and rejoices in the industry’s evolution
Spa People: 20th anniversary issue: Anna Bjurstam
The strategic senior advisor at Six Senses and Raison d'Etre on being initiated as a shaman, why psychedelics are here to stay and her bigger fear for the global spa industry
Promotion: Klafs: Relax into wellbeing
Klafs and Studio F. A. Porsche have combined their design and wellness expertise to create an oasis for total-body relaxation
News report: Eastern promise
Japan’s spa industry is valued at US$4.2 billion and is part of the world's third highest-performing wellness economy
Jeremy McCarthy: Theory of evolution
From spa to wellness and now leisure – Spa Business’ contributing editor looks at where hospitality experiences are heading
Promotion: Lemi: Built to last
Lemi is committed to leading with innovation to create
cutting-edge treatment room solutions that excel
in terms of performance and eco-credentials
Promotion: G.M. COLLIN: Collagen pioneers
GM Collin’s expertise in collagen research and product formulation has resulted in the creation of a new serum that combats age-related skin degeneration
Promotion: Comfort Zone: A brighter future
Consumers are increasingly interested in reducing dark spots and hyperpigmentation and a new line from Comfort Zone has been launched to address this emerging need
Promotion: Art of Cryo: Life changing experience
Vikki and Robbie are often exhausted after work. A visit to the spa to experience
the Art of Cryo Tech-Spa Module is a chance to re-set and rejuvenate together
The MSpa Oslo series is a perennial bestseller in global markets. With innovative
engineering and premium performance, this completely portable spa line-up is expertly
designed to meet the needs of customers worldwide. [more...]
What’s been your biggest life lesson? In 2016, I stepped down from an executive position at US franchise chain Massage Envy, to spend more time with my ageing mother. After 20-plus years of being fully immersed in my career, I felt it was time to take a break. This decision turned out to be eye-opening. There’s growth and learning that comes when we slow down, reassess and reconnect with our true selves and loved ones. Today, I’m back in my career but with more confidence, clarity and boundaries.
What do you still hope to accomplish? There’s a great need for professional, talented therapists to meet the ever-growing consumer demand for massage and bodywork services. I hope to be a part of the movement and efforts that build and drive positive public awareness and understanding of massage careers to increase interest and grow our workforce.
How has the industry evolved? In 2003, spa services were mainly available to an elite clientele. In the past 20 years, we’ve experienced unprecedented growth in local day spas through the franchise model. These models offer affordable monthly memberships of US$79-89 (€70-80 £60-68), which include a 60-minute massage, in thousands of locations in suburban communities meaning they target a more diverse consumer. US franchise spa and massage businesses are now collectively performing 30 million services annually.
What do you wish had been invented? The spa industry could greatly benefit from a national, streamlined education model for therapists, aestheticians and management candidates.
How do you hope the industry will look in 2050? I’d like to see spa services as a part of everyone’s wellness and health routines. They are so beneficial in managing hundreds of physical and emotional challenges that we all face in today’s world. It would be amazing to see the availability of them spread across all demographics. Heal the body, heal the planet.
Birthday message to Spa Business
"The world of spa and wellness is ever-evolving and Spa Business has been at the forefront of these changes. I’ve always valued its content and how it leads the charge with thought-provoking articles"
More from spa industry leaders...
In celebration of Spa Business’ 20th anniversary, industry leaders take a look at how far the sector has come since the magazine’s inception in 2003, share personal career highlights and reveal their plans and ideas for the future.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2023 issue 3
Editor's letter: Reflection point
As Spa Business celebrates its 20th birthday, Katie Barnes pauses for thought and rejoices in the industry’s evolution
Spa People: 20th anniversary issue: Anna Bjurstam
The strategic senior advisor at Six Senses and Raison d'Etre on being initiated as a shaman, why psychedelics are here to stay and her bigger fear for the global spa industry
Promotion: Klafs: Relax into wellbeing
Klafs and Studio F. A. Porsche have combined their design and wellness expertise to create an oasis for total-body relaxation
News report: Eastern promise
Japan’s spa industry is valued at US$4.2 billion and is part of the world's third highest-performing wellness economy
Jeremy McCarthy: Theory of evolution
From spa to wellness and now leisure – Spa Business’ contributing editor looks at where hospitality experiences are heading
Promotion: Lemi: Built to last
Lemi is committed to leading with innovation to create
cutting-edge treatment room solutions that excel
in terms of performance and eco-credentials
Promotion: G.M. COLLIN: Collagen pioneers
GM Collin’s expertise in collagen research and product formulation has resulted in the creation of a new serum that combats age-related skin degeneration
Promotion: Comfort Zone: A brighter future
Consumers are increasingly interested in reducing dark spots and hyperpigmentation and a new line from Comfort Zone has been launched to address this emerging need
Promotion: Art of Cryo: Life changing experience
Vikki and Robbie are often exhausted after work. A visit to the spa to experience
the Art of Cryo Tech-Spa Module is a chance to re-set and rejuvenate together
Anna Bjurstam has left her role as Wellness Pioneer at Six Senses Hotels and Resorts and
launched a new wellness, longevity and “consciousness consultancy” called Wahayla.
Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, has opened today (10 July) in the Northwest of England with a
1,715sq m Fairmont Spa that has been designed using a ‘Wellness without Walls’ concept.
Wellness hotels generating less than US$1 million (€932,700, £785,200) – or 10 per cent of
total revenue from wellness and leisure – recorded the strongest RevPAR and TRevPAR growth
in 2025 across categories when compared with 2024, according to the latest Wellness Real
Estate Report by RLA Global, produced in partnership with P and L benchmarking firm HotStats.
Lefay Resorts, the portfolio of two luxury wellness properties in Italy, has added emotional
dance classes and group cold plunge sessions in response to market demand for social
connection.
Aditya Saluja, an industry leader in luxury wellness hospitality, has been
appointed as
commercial director of spa and wellness for the spa management division of
Minor Hotels,
MSpa International.
Preidlhof Luxury DolceVita Resort, a destination resort and spa in Naturno, South Tyrol in Italy,
will reveal a new spa in February 2027, which has been designed by wellness expert and
consultant Patrizia Bortolin.
Virgin Active has officially opened its redesigned Mayfair club, unveiling its latest Social Wellness Club and
signalling a significant evolution of its proposition.
The MSpa Oslo series is a perennial bestseller in global markets. With innovative
engineering and premium performance, this completely portable spa line-up is expertly
designed to meet the needs of customers worldwide. [more...]
